Favourite car your dad had
Discussion
My Dad had quite a few fast Fords when I was growing up, but probably my favourite (and his) was a red Sierra XR4x4 with a dealer fit Turbo Technics conversion. He had a standard white XR4x4 but swapped it for the turbo which was a demonstrator at the dealer where he was friends with the sales manager.
From memory it put out about 220hp, which doesn't sound much these days, but there was very little that could keep up with it at the time.
It look totally standard too, no extra badges or anything. Proper wolf in sheep's clothing. I was slightly too young to drive it unfortunately; he swapped it for a new Escort RS Turbo which got nicked off the drive and was never seen again.
From memory it put out about 220hp, which doesn't sound much these days, but there was very little that could keep up with it at the time.
It look totally standard too, no extra badges or anything. Proper wolf in sheep's clothing. I was slightly too young to drive it unfortunately; he swapped it for a new Escort RS Turbo which got nicked off the drive and was never seen again.
Dad had company cars (Sierra's every 2 years from 1983 to 1994 ) so the excitement was limited to what had been updated by Ford..... wow, a cassette player and Sunroof (genuinely exciting for a 13 year old car fan).
As I started driving he had a Sierra GT which meant the 2.0 DOHC engine, a sunroof and the gearbox you can put into reverse whilst still moving forwards. And the small point of RWD. Perfect for a 17 year old.
Not the actual car but the same colour
As I started driving he had a Sierra GT which meant the 2.0 DOHC engine, a sunroof and the gearbox you can put into reverse whilst still moving forwards. And the small point of RWD. Perfect for a 17 year old.
Not the actual car but the same colour
It's a frustrating one for me as, every time I see my dad, we always end up talking about his car history (and just cars in general, for that matter). I'm always asked; "Do you not remember when I had...". He had some really nice stuff over the years, but most of it was when I was too young to really remember. 911's, M3's, fast Fords, all sorts really.
The only ones that I really remember were a remapped Volvo V70 D5, which had TV's in the back headrests I seem to remember, and his also remapped E60 535D Touring. A few years ago, he retired and got a 997 Carrera S, which he still has now. So, that has to be my favourite. He also let me take it out on my first ever track day at Anglesey.
The only ones that I really remember were a remapped Volvo V70 D5, which had TV's in the back headrests I seem to remember, and his also remapped E60 535D Touring. A few years ago, he retired and got a 997 Carrera S, which he still has now. So, that has to be my favourite. He also let me take it out on my first ever track day at Anglesey.
Jim-mbo4v said:
BenWRXSEi said:
Favourite of my Dad's cars has to be the Sierra XR4x4 2.8. He had it for several years in the early-mid 90s, and living in the countryside I got huge bragging rights with my mates at school every time it snowed. I was also sick in the back on at least two occasions... Sadly I believe E244 FRY is long gone now 
Second favourite would be the E30 M3 with AC Schnitzer goodies. He sold it ~10 years ago to a guy from Finland, for about £6k IIRC. I remind him of this constantly
...and yes, I know the M3 is a vastly superior car to the Sierra and blah blah blah, but growing up with the Sierra meant it made a much stronger impression on me
I've just dragged E244 FRY out of a garage last month where it's been sat since 2004Second favourite would be the E30 M3 with AC Schnitzer goodies. He sold it ~10 years ago to a guy from Finland, for about £6k IIRC. I remind him of this constantly
...and yes, I know the M3 is a vastly superior car to the Sierra and blah blah blah, but growing up with the Sierra meant it made a much stronger impression on me
Just got your PM also. Any pics etc you might have would be wonderful
Will reply to your PM also.
Cheers, Ben (previously known as BenWRXSEi)
Maxus said:
As I started driving he had a Sierra GT which meant the 2.0 DOHC engine, a sunroof and the gearbox you can put into reverse whilst still moving forwards. And the small point of RWD. Perfect for a 17 year old.
I'm still feeling old after reading that! I had a 1991 Sierra Sapphire 2.0 GLSi with the same engine and a sunroof (never tried putting it in reverse going forwards though) back in 1993.
But I would have been twice your age then!
The best thing about it was RWD!
Mind you I bought it as "stolen/recovered" but it turned out to be "stolen/unrecovered" on a cloned plate that had been used in some nefarious activity!
Which is another story in itself!No end of electrical issues with HT leads, ECUs and failed batteries - then near the end a failed clutch release bearing that meant getting the gearbox removed to replace a £20 part!
I sold it soon after and got a Mercedes 190e - build quality was in a different league.
He had a few decent cars but the one that evokes the best memories for me was a 2-door BMW 323i E30 which he had when I was about 5.
Coming from a cr*ppy 1.6 Montego I knew even then it was a step up and thought the electric aerial was its coolest feature.
We used to live a long way from my grandparents so it had been bought in the interests of being able to do the 340-mile trip "efficiently." I have a school "news" book somewhere lying around where I've written "we went to visit grandma and grandad this weekend. Dad went over 100 the whole way." It was always a challenge to see if he could beat his PB for the trip which IIRC he got down to 3 hours and 40min including a fuel stop. Those were the days...
Coming from a cr*ppy 1.6 Montego I knew even then it was a step up and thought the electric aerial was its coolest feature.
We used to live a long way from my grandparents so it had been bought in the interests of being able to do the 340-mile trip "efficiently." I have a school "news" book somewhere lying around where I've written "we went to visit grandma and grandad this weekend. Dad went over 100 the whole way." It was always a challenge to see if he could beat his PB for the trip which IIRC he got down to 3 hours and 40min including a fuel stop. Those were the days...
Memories of cars my dad brought home....(just to show his car mad son).
Works Vauxhall Firenza rally car.
Mercedes Pagoda.
Chevy Malibu.
Telling me to have a day off school to deliver the 'old' one and collect a brand new one to the Jensen factory for his boss.
My Dad? Cars meant as much to him as our fridge does to me. If we were going on holiday I would pester him to borrow something nice, he would bring home a Viva or a Kadett because they didn't use much petrol.
I do remember going to Llandudno in a purple Cortina 1600E.
He was mad on photography so there are many pictures available, if I ever speak to my sister again I might be able to get them and scan some.
Works Vauxhall Firenza rally car.
Mercedes Pagoda.
Chevy Malibu.
Telling me to have a day off school to deliver the 'old' one and collect a brand new one to the Jensen factory for his boss.
My Dad? Cars meant as much to him as our fridge does to me. If we were going on holiday I would pester him to borrow something nice, he would bring home a Viva or a Kadett because they didn't use much petrol.
I do remember going to Llandudno in a purple Cortina 1600E.
He was mad on photography so there are many pictures available, if I ever speak to my sister again I might be able to get them and scan some.
My dad never really bought anything interesting, it was always the case when buying a car of what the price was first then if it did the job secondly. I suppose the one that stands out for me was the first brand new car he bought in 1978, a Fiat 131 Mirafiori 1600 in bright orange. He was so proud of that car on the day he came home in it from Allen Briggs Motors in Chingford , then it broke his heart as he watched it slowly disintegrate before his eyes over the next few years as the dreaded rust took a hold. This was the first car I drove aged 14 when he taught me drive in it at the Cardrome in Hornchurch.
Ah memories. My third favorite is also his first car I remember being a 1963 Ford Zodiac with a bench front seat.
The second favorite was a Renault Fuego which was the first car I drove at 100mph coming out of London on the M11.
But strangely enough my favorite was a Morris Marina GT two door coupe in metallic blue with black pinstripes. If I remember correctly it had an 1800cc engine with twin carbs and a new car smell which was marvelous. I remember as well the build quality was very good which strikes me as rather odd because British Leyland, and why would I notice such a thing at that age.
The second favorite was a Renault Fuego which was the first car I drove at 100mph coming out of London on the M11.
But strangely enough my favorite was a Morris Marina GT two door coupe in metallic blue with black pinstripes. If I remember correctly it had an 1800cc engine with twin carbs and a new car smell which was marvelous. I remember as well the build quality was very good which strikes me as rather odd because British Leyland, and why would I notice such a thing at that age.
There was a CIVIC Aerodeck VTi (albeit owned by my mother) in our family. I don’t think it ever went into V-Tec once in the 5 years she owned it. I seem to recall it was part-exchanged at Honda for a new Jazz with only 5,000 miles on it.
Dad’s best car........ had to be the E34 535i, although the car that followed it....a 3.0 960 estate..... was a lovely old barge.
My uncle was the car man.... and a BMW car man. I remember visiting and there always being an exotic M car on the drive (remember, the 80’s was a time when BMW’s were serious bits of kit. I recall an E28 M5, M635 CSI and E34 M5. He always seem to have a different dolly bird on the go as well.
As a slight aside, it was my Uncle who probably ignited by interest in BMW’s. When I was about 8 he pitched up in a red E21 323i and drove me the next day to church day parade in it. Always a car that I lusted over..... so much so I bought one myself a few years ago. It went when I had a clear out of cars.... and (cliche time)..... I wish I’d never sold it. It went to a collector in Yorkshire in 2017.... the funds went towards buying the M3 (which is my first..... and probably last given I have two children to run.... M car).
Dad’s best car........ had to be the E34 535i, although the car that followed it....a 3.0 960 estate..... was a lovely old barge.
My uncle was the car man.... and a BMW car man. I remember visiting and there always being an exotic M car on the drive (remember, the 80’s was a time when BMW’s were serious bits of kit. I recall an E28 M5, M635 CSI and E34 M5. He always seem to have a different dolly bird on the go as well.
As a slight aside, it was my Uncle who probably ignited by interest in BMW’s. When I was about 8 he pitched up in a red E21 323i and drove me the next day to church day parade in it. Always a car that I lusted over..... so much so I bought one myself a few years ago. It went when I had a clear out of cars.... and (cliche time)..... I wish I’d never sold it. It went to a collector in Yorkshire in 2017.... the funds went towards buying the M3 (which is my first..... and probably last given I have two children to run.... M car).
A yellow mk1 escort dad used to ferry me to football matches in. The team bus once broke down and he gave all 11 young lads a lift home crammed in it.
He also "appropriated" some paving slabs once out of a skip amd broke a leaf spring getting home.
When it died fully he parked it in our front garden till he could repair it. 5 yrs later my uncle took it for banger racing and destroyed it first time out.
VET 58K if I recall.
He also "appropriated" some paving slabs once out of a skip amd broke a leaf spring getting home.
When it died fully he parked it in our front garden till he could repair it. 5 yrs later my uncle took it for banger racing and destroyed it first time out.
VET 58K if I recall.
His first company car was a big standard Sierra 1.8L, in basic white. As a young boy I remember the brochures and price lists, to this day I remember it was £8720. He had 3 kids so really needed the big car but I remember it was feasible to get a GL spec escort, or Ghia fiesta for the same budget. It took weeks to arrive and I remember sitting on the wall outside of the house, for what seemed like hours, waiting for him to come home (it was delivered to his work I think).
My dad only owned a handful of cars during his driving years but my favourite was his first one, a 1986 Honda Civic.
He passed away in mid 2017, I found a similar Civic for sale a few months later and bought it. It’s currently being rebuilt from a bare shell with a few modern touches and will be repainted in the same colour as my dads old car.
There is a build thread here which I really need to updated soon.
He passed away in mid 2017, I found a similar Civic for sale a few months later and bought it. It’s currently being rebuilt from a bare shell with a few modern touches and will be repainted in the same colour as my dads old car.
There is a build thread here which I really need to updated soon.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff